Post News Network
Cuttack, August 6: Three untoward incidents that occurred Thursday have exposed the prevailing lawlessness in the Jagannath temple here ahead of President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the 12th century shrine August 7.
According to sources, three servitors and a devotee from West Bengal sustained injuries in the incidents. Thursday’s incidents gave a blow to the district police which has been making an all-out effort to make the Presidential visit to the city hassle-free.
Srimandir sources said Jagannath Suar, a Suar servitor, allegedly hurled expletives at his colleague Harekrushna Suar over a trifle when the latter was loitering at the West Gate in the afternoon. Soon a scuffle ensued between the two. Enraged, Jagannath poured boiled ghee over Harekrushna who sustained burn injuries on his chest and abdomen. Singhadwar police started a probe into the incident on a complaint lodged by Harekrushna.
In another incident, two Suar servitors were injured when a clash erupted between them over sale of Mahaprasad at Anand Bazar in the temple. According to sources, two servitors attacked each other with wooden ladles when one of them tried to lure away the other’s customer. A complaint in this regard was lodged with Singhadwar police.
Later, police and personnel of Jagannath temple police service (JTPS) brokered a truce between the quarrelling servitors.
In the third incident, a servitor attacked a devotee from West Bengal near the Jay-Bijay gate when the latter refused to pay a hefty donation sought by the servitor.
Sources said servitor Mania Gochhikar sought donation from a group of Bengali tourists. On being declined, Gochhikar hurled invectives at the tourists. When Purushottam Das, one of the tourists, protested, Gochhikar attacked him. A complaint was lodged with Singhadwar police in this connection.
Singhadwar police in-charge Krushnachandra Sethi expressed concern over the incidents in the temple. “At a time when the entire rank and file of the district police is busy maintaining peace in the town, these incidents created a problem for the security personnel,” he said.
